Philly Grub

PRESS RELEASE

Gnocchi’s, one of South Philadelphia’s most enduring dining destinations, has reopened at 613 Passyunk Ave under new ownership, marking the next chapter in a story that began in 1989.

Maria Enokian and Chef Ryan Moore have assumed stewardship of the beloved East Passyunk institution, reimagining its menu and dining experience while honoring the traditions that made it a neighborhood fixture for more than three decades.

Gnocchi’s was founded at the now-legendary Ristorante San Carlo under the guidance of Mama Frusone, a matriarch of South Philadelphia’s Italian kitchen whose handmade pasta and exacting standards shaped a generation of cooks. Missoum Khemici — who came to Philadelphia from abroad, learned Italian alongside English, and fell in love with the dining room and its customers — built Gnocchi’s into a community institution through decades of dedication. When Khemici retired, he passed the restaurant to Enokian and Moore, entrusting them with a legacy that spans 36 years of tables set and meals shared on one of the city’s most celebrated dining streets.

For Maria Enokian, taking ownership of Gnocchi’s was a deeply personal decision: an act of community building as much as a business venture. For Chef Ryan Moore, it is the realization of a culinary career’s worth of ambition. Together, they have rebuilt the kitchen around a guiding philosophy that the restaurant now calls Italian American Fusion: Italian tradition as the foundation, American creativity as the engine. The result is a menu that spans housemade Ricotta Mascarpone Gnocchi and Wild Mushroom Ravioli in four-cheese alfredo alongside a 14-ounce Prime Ribeye with blackberry brandy gastrique and a Braised Lamb Shank with smoked gouda polenta and merlot jus — each plate a negotiation between two culinary identities.

The menu moves through classic Italian categories — Antipasti, Insalata, Primo, Mare, Terra, Contorno, and Dolce — with each course reflecting the new kitchen’s dual allegiances. Standout dishes include the Fettuccine Boscaiola (provolone-stuffed chorizo, oven-roasted tomato, creamy vodka sauce), Branzino stuffed with mussels, shrimp, and fresh herbs in a curry broth, and a 12-ounce Bone-In Pork Chop with peach bourbon glaze and black forbidden herb rice.

Desserts include a Homemade Tiramisu, Limoncello Mascarpone Cake, and a Sweet Potato Bread Pudding. The Bevande program features Italian espresso service alongside imported waters and Sicilian sodas — the Limonata and Aranciata Di Sicilia — a nod to the house’s Italian roots.

Gnocchi’s is located at 613 Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147, steps from some of the city’s most recognized dining addresses. The restaurant is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, and Sunday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Gnocchi’s is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Reservations are accepted via SevenRooms at gnocchi-restaurant.com.